Create accessible PDFs in line with the PDF/UA standard
With the intuitive Eye-Able platform, you can automatically detect barriers in your PDF documents and optimise them with just one click. The result: accessible PDFs that comply with WCAG requirements and are usable for everyone.
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Empowering 20,000+ websites on their accessibility journey
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What is an accessible PDF?
An accessible PDF (often referred to as PDF/UA) is more than just a readable document. It is structured in a way that allows assistive technologies such as screen readers to correctly capture, interpret and present content in the right order.
Logical tag structure: headings, paragraphs and lists are properly tagged (PDF tags)
Alternative text: images and graphics are accessible to screen readers
Correct reading order: content follows a clear, logical structure
Navigation & bookmarks: clear navigation within the document
Hyperlinks: links are properly labeled and understandable
Colour contrast & fonts: good readability for people with visual impairments
Accessible PDFs are a legal requirement
With regulations such as the European Accessibility Act, clear requirements apply based on standards like WCAG 2.1 and PDF/UA. These define the accessibility criteria that PDF documents must meet. Since June 2025, many companies and public institutions are required to provide accessible PDFs, for example for invoices or forms.
Why accessible PDFs are worth it
Legal certainty
Compliance with the EAA
Stronger brand image
Position your organisation as inclusive and forward-thinking
Greater reach
Make your content accessible to more people
Create accessible PDFs easily
Many teams face the same challenge: creating PDF/UA-compliant documents in tools like InDesign or Acrobat is time-consuming and requires expert knowledge. Mistakes are common and often costly to fix later.
Eye-Able helps you detect barriers early and resolve them efficiently. Instead of complex error messages, you receive clear guidance and concrete recommendations.
Cost efficiency
Less time required and no need for expensive external agencies
Checklist for accessible PDF documents
An accessible PDF should meet the following criteria:
Correct PDF tags and structure
Logical reading order
Alternative text for images and graphics
Clear navigation, bookmarks and hyperlinks
Sufficient colour contrast
Complete metadata
Accessible form fields (if applicable)
Many PDFs are only partially usable, or not usable at all, for people with disabilities, often without creators being aware of it.
Kompleksowa platforma do zapewniania dostępności cyfrowej
Eye-Able to kompleksowa platforma umożliwiająca spełnienie wymogów prawnych, tworzenie doskonałych doświadczeń dla wszystkich użytkowników i osiąganie lepszych wyników biznesowych.
Automated check:
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analyse all PDF documents across your domain automatically, with the option to upload additional files. Ideal for organisations with large document volumes, such as banks, insurers or public institutions
Guided optimisation:
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the software not only identifies missing tags but also offers automated fixes for many issues. You also receive detailed explanations and solution guidance for every barrier
Manual review & creation:
for fully PDF/UA-compliant documents, user perspective matters. On request, our experts manually review your PDFs and support you in creating fully accessible documents
Seamless integration into your processes
Eye-Able provides API endpoints that allow you to integrate PDF checks and optimisations directly into your existing workflows, making accessibility a natural part of your digital processes.
API interfaces
Workflow integration
Scalable automation
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Dlaczego klienci ufają Eye-Able?
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Check your PDF documents in minutes and instantly identify where barriers exist
Learn more about Eye-Able solutions
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Frequently asked questions
Accessible PDFs
Various tools are used to create and test accessible PDF documents, such as Microsoft Word, layout software like InDesign, or Adobe Acrobat.
Programs like Word or InDesign allow you to structure content properly and export it as a tagged PDF. An accessibility checker can then scan the file for issues related to structure, PDF tags, alternative text or navigation. However, this is usually not enough to achieve full PDF/UA compliance. Many issues still require manual adjustments; for example, reading order, tag structure or complex content.
The Eye-Able Platform goes a step further by combining automated checks with clear recommendations. It helps you not only identify barriers but also resolve them efficiently, enabling a scalable and sustainable approach to accessible PDFs.
In Europe, there are various providers supporting organisations in creating and testing accessible PDFs. These include specialised agencies and consultancies, as well as software solutions like axes4, PAC (PDF Accessibility Checker) or built-in features in Adobe Acrobat.
Agencies and consultancies often provide manual optimisation of PDF documents. While this delivers highly accurate results, it is usually time-consuming and costly, especially for large volumes of PDFs.
Many software tools focus on identifying issues without providing guidance on how to fix them.
Platforms like Eye-Able bridge this gap by combining automated analysis with actionable recommendations, enabling teams to resolve issues independently, optionally supported by manual expert reviews.
Accessible PDF documents are created through structured authoring and by following standards such as WCAG 2.1 and PDF/UA. Accessibility should already be considered during the creation process. This includes, for example:
Clear structure with headings and proper PDF tags
Correct logical reading order
Alternative text for images and graphics
Clear navigation, bookmarks and hyperlinks
Sufficient colour contrast
After export, PDF documents should be checked for accessibility issues, for example with the Eye-Able Platform. It automatically detects problems related to structure, tags, alternative text or navigation and presents them in a clear and understandable way.
An efficient workflow for accessible PDFs starts during content creation and helps prevent barriers early on.
Structured creation: create content in tools like Microsoft Word or InDesign using clear formatting and semantic structure.
Export as a tagged PDF: export the document as an accessible PDF with proper tagging.
Post-export testing: check the PDF for accessibility issues, for example with the Eye-Able Platform, which automatically identifies and explains problems.
Targeted optimisation: fix issues such as missing alternative text, incorrect navigation or faulty reading order.
Optional manual review: for full PDF/UA compliance, a manual review from a user perspective is recommended.
This approach helps you establish a sustainable process for creating and maintaining accessible PDFs over time.